The upcoming Linux kernel release, version 6.15, will be arriving in the next month or so, and I’m already seeing previews of what to expect. One of them is recently merged support for several gaming controllers and laptop touchpads.
New Gamepads Get Linux Support
The merge for kernel 6.15rc-6 patches Linux’s xpad driver to add support for Xbox gamepads from several different manufacturers. One of them is the 8BitDo Ultimate 3-mode controller, 8BitDo’s Xbox-licensed controller that also works on Windows, Apple, and Android devices. This update will add Linux devices to that list.
Here at How-To Geek we recently reviewed the Ultimate 2.4G, cousin to the Ultimate 3. We liked it especially for its Hall Effect joysticks, and the Ultimate 3 seems to just add Xbox branding and official support. So as far as I can tell, that controller’s probably going to be a great investment for anyone who likes to game with both an Xbox and a Linux device.
8BitDo Ultimate 2.4G Controller
A wireless controller with Hall Effect joysticks, two back paddles, 2.4 GHz connectivity, and a charging dock. It can be customized through a PC app.
Also in the list of newly supported controllers is the HORI Drum controller, a percussion peripheral designed specifically for the rhythm-focused game Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythm Festival. The game isn’t native to Linux, but ProtonDB at the time of writing gives it a Gold rating, meaning you should have little or no trouble playing it on a Linux PC or Steam Deck.
Two PowerA controllers are joining the Linux gaming world with this patch as well. The Fusion Pro 4 is a low-cost wired gamepad made for the Xbox Series X|S that also incorporates Hall Effect joysticks. Then there’s the MOGA XP-Ultra, which PowerA calls “the first licensed wireless controller for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.”
Another one is the Hyperkin DuchesS Xbox gamepad, a throwback controller reminiscent of the first-generation Xbox controller. It even has the original Xbox logo on it, thanks to a licensing deal with Microsoft. That’ll go perfect with your retro Linux gaming setup running Xemu, the original Xbox emulator.
If you have one of these gamepads or are thinking of buying one and want to play with it on a Linux device, you’re probably wondering when that’ll be possible. The 6.15 Linux kernel update I don’t expect to get here until around early June. This patch to xpad is being backported, though, so as long as you’re on a stable kernel channel still getting updates, the patch should arrive any day.
Related
The addition of more gamepad support is no surprise. There’s always something new around the corner for Linux gamers, thanks in part to the Steam Deck and how it’s been mainstreaming the Linux desktop experience. More gamepad support means more people can use their favorite controller with a Steam Deck or other Linux-supported handheld, resulting in a wider userbase.
More Improvements Coming to Linux
In the same merge for 6.15-rc6, you can also find updates patching several other peripherals. Some laptops, for example, are having their Synaptic touchpads’ input mode changed from PS/2 to the more modern SMBus communication protocol. The affected laptops include:
- Dynabook Portege X30L-G
- Dynabook Portege X30-D
- TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 v5
- Dell Precision M3800
- HP Elitebook 850 G1
Kernel 6.15 also includes fixes for the Mad Catz Joytech NEO SE Advanced controller and PDP’s official controller for Mirror’s Edge. A glitchy “Share” button on some gamepads is being fixed as well. If you happen to own one of those controllers, or one with a share button that wasn’t working, you have a lot to look forward to when 6.15 finally drops in a few weeks.
Source: Phoronix
